When you think of students, the last thing that probably comes to mind is home cooking. In fact, students have a pretty bad rep for living off take out and beans on toast, but that needn’t be the case!
Spending time in the kitchen can be a great way to switch off from the daily stresses of being a student, and the good news is that you can create some delicious meals with cheap, accessible ingredients.
So, put down the frozen chips, back away from the pot noodle – and take a look through our ultimate student shopping list.
The staples
Let’s start with those cupboard essentials. Whether you’re living in student accommodation in Bolton or an adult buying your first home – there are certain ingredients that every kitchen needs.
So, here are those basic essentials:
- Pasta
- Rice
- Bread
- Baked beans
- Cooking oil (olive, vegetable, coconut)
With these cheap ingredients at the ready, you have the beginnings of a tasty meal that can be whipped up in no time!
The healthy stuff
Whilst students may not be known for their healthy eating habits, adding some greens into your daily diet is still important and needn’t be pricey or arduous. Just a handful of any of the following can be great to implement into your weekly meal plan:
- Bananas
- Apples
- Broccoli
- Peppers
- Onions
- Garlic
- Cauliflower
- Lettuce
Obviously, any fruit or veg is fine, and if your watching your budget you can even opt forbuy frozen versions of many of these ingredients – even better!
The filling ingredients
Protein, carbs and healthy fats are all vital for a good balanced diet, and there are plenty of affordable ingredients you can opt fordecide on that will help to keep you fuller for longer, including:
- Eggs
- Fish (tinned, frozen or fresh – depending on your budget)
- Chickpeas (great nutrients and super cheap!)
- Tofu
- Mince
The good thing is that there are a wide range of filling ingredients you can opt for to suit your budget and lifestyle, so don’t shy away from these critical ingredients.
The Meal makers
Those added ingredients that really make a meal something special are important, otherwise you just won’t want to cook meals! So, here are some of our favourite ‘meal makers’ to turn that bland dish into a tasty cuisine that all your flat mates will want to try:
- Herbs & spices
- Cheese
- Sauces(soy, Worcester, mayo etc)
- Stock cubes
- Marmite (it may not be everyone’s favourite, but it can be a great addition into meals for that umami flavouring)
- Salt & pepper
Make your student accommodation in Bolton a culinary hub of excellence…
Okay so maybe you don’t need to be the next Gordan Ramsey but taking pride in the food you eat is important for your physical and mental health, not to mention it is hugely important for setting you up for later life!
So, what are you waiting for? Print this off, get down to your local supermarket and get cooking!